"This is one of my all-time favorites to make- A good wine pairing is an Iron Horse "Q" Pinot Noir from California"

SEASONAL WILD MUSHROOMS & ASPARAGUS TART

Asparagus Tart

6 stalks Asparagus

1 tbs butter

1 1/2 tsp minced shallots

12 ounces chopped wild mushrooms

1/2 cup white wine

1/2 cup heavy cream

Salt & pepper to taste

1 teaspoon chopped fresh parsley

4 4-5 inch tart shells

 

Marsala Sauce

1 tbs minced  shallots

1 sprig fresh thyme

1 bay leaf

6 cracked peppercorns

1/2 cup burgundy wine

1 cup demi-glaze

salt & pepper to taste

1 tbs unsalted butter

Preparation

1. Asparagus Tart. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Remove asparagus tips and set aside. Chop asparagus stems. Heat butter in saute pan, add shallots, and cook over medium to medium-low heat until translucent. Add mushrooms and chopped asparagus and cook until all moisture has evaporated. Add wine, stirring to dissolve browned particles in bottom of pan; cook until liquid is reduced by three fourths. Add cream and cook until thickened. Season with salt & pepper & stir in parsley. Fill tart shells with mushroom mixture, place on baking sheets, and bake until shells are browned and centers are warm, approximately 20-25 minutes.

2. Marsala Sauce. Combine shallots, thyme bay leaf, peppercorns and burgandy in saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium and cook until reduced to 1/4 cup. Add Marsala and cook until reduced to 1/4 cup. Stir in demi-glaze, reduced to desired consistency, and season to taste with salt and pepper. Stir in butter.

3 Serving. Blanch asparagus tips in boiling water for 1-2 minutes, then cut in fourths. Cut tarts in half, place two halves on each plate, and cover with approximately 1-1 1/2 tablespoons sauce. Garnish with asparagus tips and serve immediately.

*The pastery shells can be found locally at Schmidt's Bakery in Loveland, Colorado

Recipe from Cooking with Colorado's Greatest Chefs

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According to an article in August in the Raleigh News & Observer, 10.8 percent of buyers are motivated to buy due to Federal and state tax incentives. So far only 1.14 million buyers have filed for the credit but many more are expected to file for it on their 2010 returns. However, the National Association of Realtors reports that the first-time homebuyer figure in July was still about 10 percent below the average for the past six years.

There are many aspects to consider when buying your first home. Your price point, location, lifestyle, expert help, mortgage programs, inspections, how quickly you want/need to move, the list goes on. It can seem like an overwhelming process for first-time buyers. In fact, some shy away and continue to rent simply because they don't know who to turn to or where to begin. Today there are more resources than ever available with just the click of a mouse; however, that can create information overload! But if you take a breath and relax, I'll sort through some important factors for home buying. And even if you're a seller, it's good to review this material because it helps to remind you where first-time buyers' mindsets are when they make an offer on your home.

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Never skip an inspection. You simply can't spot everything that could be wrong with the home. While not all sellers do it, some hire an inspector to inspect the home when they list it on the market. However, the burden of the inspection typically falls on the buyer to pay for it. And the information you receive is invaluable. Hiring a certified inspector to give the home a once-over will help you discover problem areas that your agent can then negotiate for repair work or price adjustment. Also, note that the home inspections (yours and the sellers) may differ; examine both, this way you'll learn more about your potential home.

Frank Schulte-Ladbeck, a licensed home inspector says that when you get your home inspection be certain to have everything turned on. In one case, "The water valve to the house was turned to almost off. When you turned it on to regular pressure... the seller had water spurting out of almost all of the faucets because all of the O-rings, the seals, had all dried so much that they were just allowing water to spill right out of them," said Schulte-Ladbeck.

Use experts to help prepare. Having a team of experts who can expedite your search by finding the most suitable properties for you will save you endless hours of looking. Also, the right mortgage expert simplifies the loan process. You'll be guided through the home-buying process instead of becoming overwhelmed by the options, paperwork, and tasks. Using the best specialists can truly make buying your first home a wonderful experience.

Written by Phoebe Chongchua